Ham-compressing machine.



Nor 849,008. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. G. MONGARDI. HAM OOMPRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIOVANNI MONGARDI, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY FIORENTINI, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAIVI-CONIPRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed May 2,1906. Serial No. 314,842.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI MONGARDI, of Boston, in the coimty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ham-Oompressing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for compressing masses of uncooked meat, and particularly boned hams, and holding the same in approximately cylindrical form during the cooking operation, the form thus imparted to the meat being rendered sufliciently permanent by the cooking.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and conveniently-operated machine for the purpose stated and it consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of a portion of the machine. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a part of the machine shown in.Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents an end view of the flexible jacket shown in Fig. 3.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A represents a lever which is pivoted at G to ears on a base or support L, one arm of said lever being curved and provided with a transversely-extending head or jaw D.

B represents a standard affixed by bolts H to the base L, the said standard being preferably curved, so that its upper end overhangs the base, the said overhanging end being provided with a transversely-extending head or jaw D, which is opposed to the jaw D on the lever A.

O represents a flexible compressor composed of a strip of sheet metal or other suitable material attached at its ends to the backs of the jaws D D.

The arrangement of the described parts is such that when the curved arm of the lever A is moved toward the standard B the jaw D approaches the jaw D and the compressor O is contracted, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

W represents a flexible jacket composed of a strip of sheet metal or other suitable material of suflicient length to cover the length of a boned ham and of suitable width to encircle the said ham when the latter is compressed by the action of the machine, as hereinafter described. A loose segmental sheet-metal strip W may be inserted in the jacket W to fill the space between its edges. The opposed edges of the jacket W are bent backwardly, forming lips or flanges Y, which are engaged with the aws D D. It Will be seen, therefore, that the jacket W is adapted to be inserted in the compressor O and engaged with the jaws D D, so that when the said jaws are brought together the flanged edges of the jacket will be also brought together. The jacket being thus contracted is caused to compress and impart a substantially cylindrical form to a boned ham inserted in it.

The means for operating the lever A are as follows: T represents a treadle-lever pivoted at S to a supporting-frame M and adapted to be depressed by the foot of the operator. The lever T is connected by a rod Z with one arm of the curved lever A, the rod Z being pivoted at R to the lever T and at F to the lever A. When the lever T is depressed, motion is communicated from it through the rod Z to the lever A, the jaw D of the latter being swung inwardly toward the jaw D. When the lever T is released, a spring O, connected at one end with a hook N, aflixed to the base L, and at its other end with a rod P, connected at Q to the lever T, raises the lever T, and thus swings the curved arm of the lever A away from the standard B. The compressor O is thus opened, permitting the removal of the jacket therefrom.

The jacket is provided with means for holding it compressed upon its contents, the

preferred means being ears I I, aflixed to the jacket W, the ears I being slotted, and chains X, engaged with the ears I and adapted to detachably enter the slots in the ears I, each of said slots being wide enough to receive a link of said chain, as indicated in Fig. 4, the adjacent links of the chain bearing on the opposite sides of the flange I and preventing movement of the chain through the slot of the flange. This connection provides for any desired adjustment of the diameter of the jacket within the limits of the chains X.

In 0 crating the machine the uncooked boned am is placed in the jacket, and the latter is placed in the compressor C, the edges of the jacket being free. The lever T is then depressed, thus closing the compressor and the jacket around the ham. WVhen the desired compression has been attained, the chains X X are adjusted to secure the edges of the jacket together. released, and the jacket, with its contents, is removed from the compressor, the jacket remaining upon the ham during the operation of boiling the latter. After the cooking operation the jacket is removed from the ham and may be used again in the manner described. It will be understood that a number of jackets are provided for use with each machine.

I do not limit myself to the employment of the compressor C, as said compressor may be dispensed with, the jacket being contracted wholly by the jaws D D, engaged with its edge portions.

The standard B and compressing-lever A may have any desired form and relative arrangement which will provide a space between said parts adapted to receive the jacket and its contents, said space being overhung by the jaws D D when the latter are brought together.

I claim- 1. A meat-compressing machine comprising a fixed standard terminating in a fixed jaw, a compressing-lever pivoted below said jaw, and having a jaw movable toward and from the fixed jaw, said standard and lever being separated by a space Which is overhung by the said jaws when they are brought together, a flexible jacket adapted to occupy said space, and having ears adapted to engage said jaws, and mechanism for moving said lever to contract the acket and compress its contents.

2. A meat-compressing machine compris- The lever T is then ing a fixed standard terminating in a fixed jaw, a compressing-lever pivoted below said jaw, and having a jaw movable toward and from the fixed jaw, said standard and lever being separated by a space which is overhung by the said jaws when they are brought together, a flexible jacket adapted to occupy said space, and having ears adapted to engage said jaws, mechanism for moving said lever toward the standard to contract the jacket, and means for automatically retracting the lever to release the jacket.

3. A meat-compressing machine comprising a fixed standard terminating in a fixed jaw, a compressing-lever pivoted below said jaw, and having a jaw movable toward and from the fixed jaw, said standard and lever being separated by a space which is overhung by the said jaws when they are brought together, a flexible compressor attached at its ends to said jaws, and occupying said s ace, a flexible jacket adapted to be detachably inserted in the compressor, and provided with means for adjustably connecting its edges,

and mechanism for moving the lever to con tract the compressor and jacket.

4. A meat-compressing machine comprising a fixed standard terminating in a fixed jaw, a compressing-lever pivoted below said jaw, and having a jaw movable toward and from the fixed aw, said standard and lever being separated by a space which is overhung by the said jaws when they are brought together, a treadle-lever connected with the compressing-lever, and a retracting-spring connected with the treadle-lever.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GIOVANNI MONGARDI.

IVitnesses:

G. F. BROWN, I. W. PEZZETTI. 

